Aviator&#39;s helmet



March 19, 1929. RODGERS AVIATORS HELMET Filed May 21, 1928 wllillllllilfll 4.

INVENTOR. fl/f ll. Fo ge; BY & g 7

A TTORNEY.

Patented M... 19, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED A. RODGERS, 013 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO SCULLY BROS. INQ, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

AvI'A'roRs HELMET.

Application filed May 21,

My invention relates to headgear for use chiefly by aviators and it has for its object the provision of a head covering which will afford protection against winds and air rushes, while at the same time providing a maximum of comfort for the wearer.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a headgear of this character in which the inrush of air particularly about the ear region is efiectively prevented; to provide a helmet in which the ears of the aviator may i be conveniently accommodated without producing pressure thereon; to provide a means in a helmet for effectively excluding rushes and gusts of air and that will fit against the face portions regardless of their contour; and to provide a helmet in which fluttering and other annoying movement of parts or portions of the helmet cannot occur. These and other objects will appear from the suhjoined specification inv connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof and illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention and a preferred structure for attaining the objects mentioned.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a side view of a helmet embodying my invention. I

Fig.- 2 is a front view. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional detail, the section occurring on line 33 Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side Aview of helmet.

Fig. 5 is a side view of one of the side portions of a helmet of lighter material, and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail showing a method of forming a binding around the edge of two conjoined pieces.

The invention consists of a headgear or helmet of suitable substantial material formed to fit over and cover the top of the head and envelop the forehead, the back of the head and the sides of the head, and;

formed with lateral enlar ements or pockets.

for the acconunodation o the ears. It also consists of a helmet having elastic means which, when the helmet is adjusted to the head of the wearer, automatically adapts itself snugly to the face and thereby prevents any inrush of air in the regionof the aviators ears; and it also consists of a helmet provided with means for preventing a lining for the 1928. Serial N0. 279,394.

fluttering of the material in. the top of the helmet.

Referring particularly to the form of embodiment ofthe invention shown, the helmet comprises an outer covering, composed of strips or pieces 1 and 1, preferably of leather, which are arranged to cover the forehead, the top of the head, and a portion of neck. The strip or pieces 1 and 1 are conjoined in any suitable manner, as by stitching. To the side edge of each of these pieces or strips 1 and 1' are conjoined in any suitable fashion, as by stitching, a plurality of side strips 2 and 2, which are arranged to cover the sides of the face and complete the covering of the neck. These side portions or strips 2 and 2' terminate'at their free ends in narrowed tapering tangs 3 and .3 onto which are preferably secured the usual strap and buckle for fastening the helmet. In order that these side portions or strips 2 and 2 may afl'ord comfortable and protective accommodation'for the ears, they are constructed and designed .to form pockets 4 and 4. A convenient, practical and simple method of forming the pockets or bulge in the side pieces 2 and 2' is illustrated substantially in Fig. 5. The tang 3, side strip or piece 2 is,.as shown in dotted lines in said figure, longerthan the binding 5,

which is arranged to be sewed or otherwise applied to the edges of the material. When therefore the shorter binding 5 is applied to the longer tang 3, the material of such tang is fed into the binding in the process of sewing the two together and such feeding in is accomplished by gathering the tang material until' all ofit is united to the binding 5. By thus binding the surplus material of the tang 3, bulges or pockets 4 and 4 are created, as'shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 5. In ad 'dition to providing pockets 4 and 4', this method of binding the \tang 3 and 3" removes all strain and stretch from the pocketed tangs during adjustment 'of the helmet and places them directly upon the binding 5, by reason of which the binding is caused to lie snugly against the face, while the ears of the wearer, are comfortably contained in the pockets Land 4. Where the heavier helmets are provided with heavy wool lining, the stiffness of the wool hide or skin makes it practically impossible to gather it in the form described for producing the bulging or'pocketing effect, to conform to the bulge or pocket in the outer cover. The pockets are therefore produced in the linings 8 for the side pieces 2 and 2, by removing V-shaped pieces from the edges of the linings 8, as shown in Fig. 4, and then sewing together the edges 8 of the incisions.

The binding which I prefer to employ for strength and permanence and the method of applying same is shown in Fig. 6. The binding material 5 is preferably a narrow strip of the same material as the side pieces or strips 2 and 2 and the binding 5 is formed concurrently with the application of the binding material to the side strips 2 and 2.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a fragmentary section of the side strip 2. One end 6 of the headgear designed chiefly for summer use,

or use in warm climates the binding 5 by reason of its construction as explained lies sufiiciently snugly against the face to prevent practically any disturbing and annoying rushes of air in the region of the ears. In the heavier helmet, however, or those made for winter use or use in cold zones, and composed of heavier materials and heavy linings, it is not only desirable, but absolutely necessary to prevent these rushes of air into the helmet in the region of the ears.

On account of the heavy wool lining usually used in the winter helmets and also on account of the heavy leather outer covering generally used for this type of headgear, it is extremely diflicult so to fashion the side pieces that the rush of air will be effectively excluded in the region of the ears. For these reasons I provide air seals on the sides of the helmet which press with suflicient firmness against the face to prevent the ingress of any air, yet without creating discomfort.

These air seals are shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 2, and comprise resilient members 9 and 9 of substantially triangular formation, the inside edge of which is arranged to be sewed for part of its length on the outside surface and near the front edge of the tapering tangs 3 and 3', and for the remainder of its length arranged to be sewed or otherwise fastened to the inside surface and near the outside and bottom edge of the side pieces or strips 2 and 2, whereby the outside edges of said members extend at an angle to the vertical and connect the bottom edges of the overhanging portion of the side pieces or strips 2 and 2, with the tangs 3 and 3 near the ends thereof. The air sealing members 9 and 9 are preferably formed of pieces of soft leather, folded upon themselves, as shown in Fig. 3. To give such resiliency or. elasticity to the members 9 and 9 at the lines of the folds 10 and 10 that they will adapt themselves with snugness and firmness to the contour of theface when the helmet is adjusted, I provide a resilient or elastic medium which may be elastic tape 11. The elastic tapes 11 are placed within the folds 10 and 10 of the members 9 and 9 and stretched preferably to their elastic limits. In this condition of intension, the tapes 11 are then conjoinedwiththe folds 10 and 10 by stitching 12 and12 or in any other manner, and upon subsequent contraction of the elastic medium, the folded edges 10 and 10 are caused to form gathers 10 and 10. WVhen application of the helmet is made, these resilient folds 10 and 10 arecaused to be placed under tension by the contour of the checks of the wearer which are snugly embraced by them thereby effectively preventing any inrush of air in the region of the ears of the wearer.

While I have heretofore mentioned that these air seals 9 and 9 are designed for use chiefly with the heavier helmets, it will be understood that a like provision may be made on the lighter types of helmets.

In. order to prevent what is generally called fluttering in the to of the helmet, which is a rapid vibration o the outer cover relatively to the lining produced by vacuum and which is a distracting annoyance to aviators, I provide reinforces in the strips or pieces 1 and l. These reinforces 13 and 13, shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are preferably rows of stitches povided approximately centrally of the strip or pieces 1 and 1' and extending transversely thereof. They are arranged to tie together the outer cover or pieces 1 and 1 and the lining 14, and serve to prevent relative movement thereof and also movement thereof relative to the head of the wearer.

What I claim, is:

1. A headgear of the character described comprising a head, forehead and neck covering,and having tapering pieces for covering the sides of the face, edges of said taper ing pieces being, gathered to form ear accommodating pockets and a non-elastic binding secured to the said gathered edges by which the adjustment of the headgear may be madewithout strain upon the pockets.

2. A headgear of the character described comprising a head covering having ear accommodating pockets, and provided with. elastic means connecting the front of the pockets with the head covering and automatically adjustable to the face of the wearer for excluding air in the regionof the cars.

3. A headgear'of the character described comprising a head, forehead and neck covering, and provided with tapering pieces forcovering the sides of the face, and, elastic means connecting the front edges of the tapering side pieces with the upper portion thereof and embracing the sides of the face of the wearer to prevent the ingress of air.

4. A headgear of the character described comprising a covering for the head,- forehead and neck, and provided with tapering pieces for covering the sides of the face, said side pieces formed with ear accommodating pockets, and elastic means attachedto said side pieces forward of the pockets and to a portion of the head covering to prevent ingress of air thereto. g

5. A headgear of the characterdescribed comprising a covering for the head, forehead; and neck and provided with pieces for cover,- ing the sides of the face, said side pieces being gathered at the ed 'es thereof to form ear accommodating pockets and provided with a binding for maintaining the gathers in said side pieces and for removing the strain from said side pieces when adjusting the headgear, and flexible members secured to saidside pleces forward of the pockets therein, the front edges of said members being expansible and arranged snugly to fit against the face to prevent ingress of air to the headgear in the region of the ears.

6. A11 aviators headgear of the character described comprising a covering for the top of the head, the forehead and neck, and having tapering pieces for covering the sides of the ,face, said covering provided with transverse reinforcing means to prevent fluttering of the covering, and elastic means conjoining the tapering pieces with the covering forward of the ears and arranged snugly'to fit against the face of the wearer to prevent inrushes of air in the region of the ears. 1

7. An aviators headgear of the ,class described comprising a covering for the top of the head, the forehead and the neck and having tapering pieces for covering the'sides of the face formed with ear accommodating pockets, said covering provided with reinforcing stitches to prevent fluttering of said covering, and elastic means provided forwardly of the pockets to prevent ingress of air thereto.

In testimony whereof I have set my hand.

ALFRED A. RODGERS. 

